Frederick named as Neshaminy's football coach

LANGHORNE, Pa. — Football runs through Mike Frederick’s veins and it fuels school spirit on the Langhorne, Bucks County, campus of Neshaminy High.

So Frederick seems the perfect fit as the Redskins’ new head football coach.

The Neshaminy School Board approved Frederick’s hiring last night much to the pleasure of athletic director Tom Magdelinskas, who led the search to replace the school’s all-time wins leader Mark Schmidt. Schmidt resigned in February after 20 seasons at the helm. He amassed a 161-66 record and claimed the 2001 PIAA State Championship, along with three District One titles.

Frederick, a 1990 graduate of Neshaminy, was an All-State and Big 33 player for the Redskins before captaining the University of Virginia and playing five seasons for three NFL teams. He is a financial planner who previously served as an assistant coach at the Gilman School, a private school in Baltimore.

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“It came across loud and clear that, as much as anything, Neshaminy was good to Mike and Mike wants to give back to Neshaminy,” Magdelinskas told The Trentonian.

“The determining factor was the character that Mike brings to the table and his knowledge of the game. He’s been trained by some of the best in the world,” Magdelinskas added.

Frederick was a legacy in the fraternity of Bucks County football. His dad Tom starred at Bishop Egan and Penn State before signing with the Detroit Lions. Mike’s uncle Dave was a multi-sport star at Egan, earning Catholic League MVP honors in football and basketball before playing football at Temple.

Mike Frederick played outside linebacker, defensive end and tight end for the Redskins. In his junior season (Fall 1988), Neshaminy went 11-0 in the regular season and was one of four teams selected to compete in the first-ever PIAA tournament. The Redskins lost to Cedar Cliff in the state Class AAAA semifinal. Neshaminy went 35-10 in his four years with the program. Magdelinskas was Frederick’s position coach in those years under head coach John Chaump.

After college, Frederick went to the Browns in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft. He started 11 games for the Ravens the following year and moved to the Titans in 1999 for one season.

According to the AD, 19 candidates expressed an interest in the job, 14 submitted formal applications and about 10 interviewed. Frederick was among four finalists. Assistant principals, Principal Rob McGee and the district’s assistant superintendant all contributed to the process.

Frederick has been living in the West Chester area. He is a partner in a financial services firm and will not join the high school faculty.

“He’s looking to get back into the area and his family still lives in the area,” Magdelinskas said.